Kansas City Royals: Best fourth overall picks in MLB history
Kansas City Royals: Best Fourth Overall Picks
8. player. 90. . Third Baseman. Washington Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman
The second player to appear on this list who is still in the majors is Ryan Zimmerman, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. Zimmerman made his MLB debut at age 20 and remains with the Nationals to this day, helping them win a World Series in 2019.
After 15 years in the league, Zimmerman has notched a batting average of .279 while crushing 270 home runs and 1,015 RBI. Zimmerman has appeared in two All-Star games while also winning the Silver Slugger award twice and winning one Gold Glove.
Zimmerman’s best season came in 2017 where he made it to his second All-Star Game after slashing .303/.358/.573 and hitting 36 home run while plating 108 RBI. He did this in his age 32 season and continues to hit decently despite turning 36 years old in September. He’s definitely one of the best fourth overall picks was in the same draft as Alex Gordon (taken two picks prior), so that’s fun.
9. . Pitcher. Chicago Cubs. Kerry Wood. 7. player
The first pitcher taken in the 1995 MLB Draft was at pick number four – Kerry Wood, who landed with the Chicago Cubs. Wood spent most of his career with the Cubs and was a part of that infamous NLCS Game 6 in 2003 (aka the Steve Bartman game).
Wood debuted in 1998 at the age of 20 and had a tremendous rookie season, pitching 166.2 innings and locking down a 3.40 ERA. This earned Wood the Rookie of the Year title and he continued to pitch at an extremely high level for the rest of his career.
Wood was a two time All-Star, qualifying in both 2003 and 2008. That 2003 season was an incredible one for Wood, as he had a 3.20 ERA through 32 starts and pitched four complete games while pitching 211 innings that year.
Kerry Wood spent 12 of his 14 year career with the Cubs and was able to return there for the final two years of his career in 2011 and 2012.